Monday, September 05, 2005

Datsyuk heads home...

According to TSN, Pavel Datsyuk has turned down a $5 million contract offer from the Red Wings to play in Russia. Datsyuk thinks he's worth in the $6 millio/season range:

"I think I am worth at least what (Dany) Heatley or (Joe) Thornton got from their deals," Datsyuk told the Russian media.

There's a couple of things wrong with his logic. First, why would he think that his NHL career total of 53 goals matches up with what Joe Thornton has done? Right, it doesn't. Also, his totals in Russia last year were less than impressive.

Secondly, I believe that Dany Heatley is slated to make $3.5 million this year. I realize that over the life of his contract, he will average around $5 million/season, but reportedly the Red Wings have already offered Datsyuk that kind of cash. So what gives with that, Pavel?

I'm so sick of the nature of the modern athlete. Datsyuk is over-estimating his value on a massive scale. There's no way that he's worth that kind of money. I'm frankly shocked that he was offered $5 million. That's a ton of cash for a guy who has really had one solid season - at 27 years old. So you know what? Let Datsyuk move to Russia. Let him leave the cozy confines of a Stanley Cup contender to go play in Siberia.

2 Comments:

I agree with everything you said. Except for that one little phrase about Detroit being a "Stanley Cup Contender." They're one of the few teams in the league that seems to have taken a significant step backwards in terms of relative strength. I would be surprised if the Wings roster as it is now (with or without Datsyuk) makes any waves in post-season play.

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Born and raised in the hockey town of Kamloops, B.C., Red Line Sports is my outlet for sports commentary.
In between scouting & writing for McKeen's Hockey Magazine and juggling a career as a real estate appraiser, my true passion lies in expressing and conversing views on hockey.

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